2009 General Motors Cadillac — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 General Motors Cadillac passed 80.5% of its 251 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 10 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.3% versus 13.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 17 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 13 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 13 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.5% | 74 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.9% | 60 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 49 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 69 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 56 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 186 | 16.7% |
| Diesel | 64 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 56 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 39 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 47 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cadillac
On a 2009 Cadillac, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (5.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 General Motors Cadillacs pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 251 2009 General Motors Cadillac MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 General Motors Cadillac?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by brakes (6.8%).
Does the 2009 Cadillac get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.